Please Read Stuff and Things vol.6...

...because I didn't have the time to put together a post...and that doesn't matter because anything I have to say at the moment isn't as important as what Kaity shared:

He Grabbed Me By My Pussy: My Sexual Assault Story

or what her sister shared:

It was NEVER my Fault: Kelly's Sexual Assault Story

or what her friend shared:

This Stops with Us: A's Sexual Assault Story

I believe in knowledge.

I believe in support.

I believe in encouragement.

I believe in cleansing.

I believe in the strength of these women.

I believe awareness is a tool to battle sexual assault.

Linking with Kristin:

Waiting to be published...

I think we all do it.  We have ideas for blog posts, we throw something into draft to remind us to work on it later, then we forget about it, or it just never comes together quite like we want it.  Are you with me? 

That's why, when I read the following prompt from Alyssa, I knew I had something to write about:

"A blog post (or a list of post topics) you want to write but have yet to hit "publish" on"

Here's a sample of current posts of mine sitting in draft:

1. 5 strangers that make my day better - Steph wrote this post ages ago, and it inspired me.  It inspired me enough to create a draft, but I never actually listed or wrote about those people.
2. Still adjusting - The idea of this post is to discuss my life as an expat and some of the things that have taken me awhile to adjust to this life in another country.
3. Who's That Guy vol.3 - I intended this to be a series about my guy.  I wrote two posts and then abandoned it from there.  Oops.
4. The Boy - For his birthday, I had great intentions to write a sweet post about my stepson, his likes and dislikes, and the things that make our relationship special.  His birthday came and went.  I know, I don't need it to be a birthday to write this post. 
5. Women born in 1973 - Speaking of birthdays, I have a couple of posts I intended to write during my birthday week.  Didn't happen.  This was one of them.
6. 1973 Happenings - this was another birthday post that didn't get published.
7. Friday Favorites: Beauty Edition - I don't really do Friday Favorites anymore.  I'm terrible with weekly link-ups. 
8. Rockers done good - This post is about those rock'n'roll idols that use their celebrity status for good causes.  This one is pretty much done.  I'll have to look at it again to see why it's not published yet.
9. Repeat offender - This post is about the fact that there are so many wonderful places to explore in this great big world, but I have repeatedly visited some of the same vacation spots over and over again.
10. Sisterhood of the World Bloggers - This is one of those "tags" that I received from another blogger with a question & answer attached to it.  Time passed, and I hadn't posted it.  I questioned "did too much time pass?" 
11. Tour packages - a look at past concerts tours that I've seen and the bands that were packaged together; a self-indulgent post that will probably not get many views, and it hasn't been finalized because I keep feeling like I'm forgetting bands/tours.
12. Australian vs. American English vol.3 - vol.1 and vol.2 were popular posts, why not a 3rd?
13. Things about me - Yep, clever title for a post, huh?  Even better...all that's written in draft is "I love naps."
14. I confess these things annoy me - pretty self-explanatory
15. Lyrics - I have compiled a whole list of lyrics that have been meaningful to me throughout my life.  This one may get massaged into another post for Alyssa's link-up.
16. Blogger Love vol.9 - I always have one of these in draft.  Do I use it often enough?  No. 
17. Trends I've loved and trends I've hated - This is a fun one.  I just need to dig out some old pictures of me showing off those trends that I loved.
18. Playlist: Songs from the year I graduated high school - I planned to post this last May while many graduations were being held.  Obviously, that post didn't happen.
19. More serious talk - Every now and then, I tackle a difficult topic and express my opinions.  This one is about legalized prostitution.
20. Do you remember when? - Rachel posted this clever and fun walk down memory lane for someone who enjoys traveling with others.  I plan to steal it borrow it.

Linking with Alyssa:

Tell me 3 of those drafts that you are most interested in reading.  I'll try to get those 3 drafts actually published!

Sunday's Seven Snapshots vol.94

Our feline twins celebrated their birthday this week ~ Ricky & Ivy are 3!

The father-in-law had a birthday too. I celebrated by eating fried stuff with cheese on top (aka chicken parmigiana).

My step-mom sent this to me to wish me a happy Friday. 

Friday, lunchtime, gelato with a view

In case you missed it, I rediscovered some fun things while "Spring Cleaning"...like this "Glamour Shot" of me from the '80s. 

My sweet Sally girl ~ I love this face!

If you know me, you know I do not like cleaning house. I've never claimed to be domestic. This is my stunning self after 8 hours of cleaning with probably 2 more hours to go. Kill me now.

Happy weekend!

Hold My Beer

Why is it, when Alyssa gave a list of her "Back to Blogging" prompts, that the "hold my beer" moment is the one that I knew, without a doubt, that I could write?  Is it because I've had a lot of them?  Probably.  Is it because I've drank too much?  Probably.  Is it because I've had a lot of fun during some drunken debauchery?  Probably that too.

Here's a few things I love:  music, rock music, live music, and yes, beer.  I've been fortunate enough to see many of my favorite bands in concert, and believe me, there's been a lot of beer consumed at those concerts.

Stone Temple Pilots is one of those bands that I've seen at multiple gigs in different venues and at different times of their tenure.  The songs are fantastic, the band is always tight, the crowds are always good, and Scott Weiland was always one of the best of all front men.  I feel like I saw him at various stages of his drug addiction, but he still was always an incredible performer.

June 8, 2000 - STP returned to Houston, and a group of friends and I went.  I'd seen them before, and I loved the venue selected for this show.  It was a little smaller than where I'd previously seen them (holds approximately 2500).  The venue for this show was all general admission with a floor section and a back section that had an incline or rise to it. 

by artist Jermaine Rogers

For the opening band (and I don't remember who opened), I sat in the back section on the rise and many beers were consumed.  This was a common occurrence for my group of friends, depending on the opening act. 

We got to talking to this dad and his 13 year old son sitting next to us.  It was the son's first concert ever, and he was so excited to see Stone Temple Pilots. 

(I swear my "hold my beer" moment is coming..........)

Opening band ended.  More beer was consumed.  Lights go down.  Concert starts.  Everyone stands and is getting into the show.  The kid next to us is loving it.  He's so pumped.

Again, I lovvvvvvve live music.  I feel the adrenaline.  I absorb the environment.  I sing.  I dance.  I throw my arms in the air.  I sweat.  I shake.  I love it.  And, I like to be close and in the midst of it all.

At the time of this show, I was 26 years old (almost 27) and in my prime rock show music attending, concert going mode.  I was not going to stay in the back.  The band was pulling me forward.  If you are a fan of STP, check out this setlist that was played that night.

"Wicked Garden" kicked in, one of my favorites.  So, what did I do?  I said "hold my beer" and grabbed the hand of that 13 year old kid, and yelled "c'mon!"  (getting a nod of approval from his dad.)

I dragged that kid up into the middle of the mosh pit, and I just kept dragging.  He was jumping around, singing, going crazy, and his eyes were as wide as saucers with awe and excitement.  Eventually, I got us all the way up to the front of the stage, and he even slapped hands with Scott Weiland.  We remained there at the front barricade for the rest of the concert.

Not only was my concert experience amazing, but I'm pretty sure I gave this kid a story to tell about his "first concert ever".  At least, I hope so.  All because I put down my beer.

Now, if only Scott Weiland could've put down the drugs...........

A review I found about this particular gig:

With a healthy Weiland, STP an untouchable band

Join me with Alyssa and tell your best "hold my beer" moment...

Or...tell me one of your favorite concert experiences.

Stuff and Things vol.5: Swear Words and Politics Included

• I think I'm at version #5 of "Stuff & Things", but I'm not 100% sure.  I could check, but I'm lazy.
• If you don't like "f" bombs or profanity, don't read any further.
• I posted this in December 2015, and I'm gonna post it again:  "Trump is a fucking embarrassment. He is a fucking idiot. Fuck him, fuck his hair, fuck his terrible spray tans, fuck his racism, fuck his bankruptcies, fuck "The Apprentice", fuck the political climate that has developed where people are actually supporting him. #goawaytrump". 
• Too bad I didn't include "fuck his misogyny" or that statement from 2015 would be my exact same feelings today.
• If he is actually elected President, I wonder if the FBI will come knocking on my door because of that above statement. 
• In my voting lifetime, my home state has been a "red state".  I have always considered myself independent.  I have voted Republican in the past.  Although, we are all products of our environment (hello, my name is Erin, and I majored in Sociology), I feel like I am willing to look at candidates regardless of the political party they represent. 
• That being said, I am disgusted, dismayed, disappointed, and disheartened in the Republican Party that Donald Trump is their nominee for President. How, how, howwwwww did they not have a person better prepared for this election?
• SO many of the supporters of Trump (as evidenced by my facebook feed) support him because they hate Hillary.  They think she's crooked, a criminal, a liar, a murderer, a career politician, etc., etc., etc.  They can't get past their hatred of her or all things Clinton to examine the real Donald Trump.
• Well, I can't look past my disgust with Donald Trump and the disappointment I feel towards the Republican Party for choosing him as the nominee for President of the United States of America.
• Things shared by me this week:

• This looks awfully photoshopped, but I'm sharing it anyway. 

• Y'all have heard me talk about this musical genius that I love named Butch Walker.  Background info:  He and Pink are besties.  She made a comment on her ig, and followers got upset, and she gave a pseudo apology.  Well, he went OFF on Instagram this week, and it's worth having a look.  My favorite line:  "And the irony of it all is YOU TELL CELEBS TO "STICK TO WHAT THEY KNOW".... Yet, a lot of you are willing to vote into Presidency A FUCKING REALITY TV STAR. Fucking hypocrites."
• I'm a fucking hypocrite for sharing that badly photoshopped "#protectyourpussy" meme because I have been very vocal about my criticisms of irresponsible sharing of memes in this political climate.
• Thank you to the male athletes that have spoken out...  From the Huffington Post:  Pro Athletes Say No One Talks Like Trump in Locker Rooms
• Y'all knew this was coming, right?  From the NY Times:  Two Women Say Donald Trump Touched Them Innappropriately
• Hey Steph, I'm a member of that army you speak of.  If y'all don't know what I'm talking about, then read Steph's post. 

• Enough about politics, here's a meme for all to enjoy:

Linking up with  Kristin & Joey

I show you my books*, you show me yours vol.21

*My husband looked over my shoulder and saw this post title.  He giggled and said "I thought that said boobs."  I replied "Uhm.  Yeah.  I know.  It's a play on words."  He said "oh, good one."  That's about the most interest he's ever shown in my blog.

Jana & Steph are bringing us book lovin' bloggers our favorite day of the month again - Show Us Your Books day!  It's the day of the month that my goodreads gets the most activity...and I do love myself some goodreads.  Be my friend (if we aren't already.)  Plus, our hosts are celebrating two years of this link-up.  With many of us naming this "our favorite link-up", I think they've done us book lovin' bloggers a favor by hosting it.  Thanks to Jana & Steph!

What I've read since our last link-up:

1.  Sister by Rosamund Lupton - About 2/3rds in, I found myself ready for this book to end. I kept reading because I wanted to know how it all ended, but I wasn't a fan. 2/5

2.  Blood-Drenched Beard by Daniel Galera - I don't have a DNF often, so when I do, it's worth mentioning.  This one confused me.  The reviews are great, and the synopsis sounds interesting to me.  I sluggishly read 100 pages, and I had another 300 to go, but I wasn't into this book enough to care what happened. Not at all.  So, I took a lesson from other book bloggers, quit it, and moved on.  My tbr list is too long to waste my time on a book I think I'm *supposed* to like but don't.
Plus, what's up with the lack of quotation marks for dialogue?  Annoying and confusing.

3.  Life or Death by Michael Robotham - I liked the story, but I had some issues with its edits, and I wrote a post about it that you can read here.  4/5

4.  Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin -  I enjoy reading children's literature every once in a while.  (I think this is considered "middle grade".) This is a poignant story that pulls at the heart, especially for dog lovers.  4/5

5.  The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison - The last few years, I've made a point to read a "challenged" book during Banned Books Week.  This year, I looked at this list (since the theme was to celebrate diversity) and spied The Bluest Eye.

An examination of how racism leads to self-hatred, the loss of innocence, abandonment, misplaced aggression, and so many other devastating impacts. It's my first Toni Morrison book and won't be my last. 4/5

6.  Private Paris by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan - Admittedly, there are liberties taken in this book that are pretty stretched, but it's fiction, right?  For the enjoyment and entertainment factor, I will regularly read James Patterson books as long as he is publishing them.  I prefer some of his series more than others, and I enjoy the character "Jack Morgan" in the Private books.  Maybe because, by his physical characteristics that are described (tall, blonde, football player build, good-looking), I picture him to look like Chris Hemsworth.  4/5

7.  The Dry by Jane Harper - A debut by an Australian author that was receiving lots of attention and rave reviews.  Two separate mysteries are the central stories in this book that is tense and atmospheric.  The author does a tremendous job at describing a town, its culture, and its characters.  A well-written book for those who enjoy crime fiction.  4.5/5

Something to remember during the current political climate:

Next up (finally):  Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart

Have you read any of these?  Do you want to?

Sunday's Seven Snapshots vol.93

Yes, this week's Sunday's Seven Snapshots is brought to you on Monday. Life happens.

The girls got new collars ~ fancy schmancy purple and pink leather ones with silver studs. My girls got style. The only way I could get a picture of them was to put a treat on the ground.

I am still salivating over these fajitas. I am thrilled to have found Arturo, my new favorite chef, even if he called me a gringo.  Mexican food cooked by a Mexican chef five minutes from my house!

My mom sends me care packages. The latest one had these fabulous sandals. They are so "me". 

Friday night drinks with my fellow Texas A&M alum living in Sydney. How 'bout that game between the Aggies and the Volunteers?!  My dad was there, and I called him after to make sure he hadn't suffered a heart attack during the nail-biting double overtime game. 

The stepkid turned 9 and had his birthday party at Jump Zone. A massive room of kids, trampolines, and loud music. What could go wrong?

My peeps

Niece 3 celebrated her 3rd birthday. I was happy to celebrate with her and eat chocolate cake. 

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!